A LARGE cannabis farm has been discovered by police.

More than 150 plants were unearthed in two rooms in a property in Hope Street, Accrington on Monday.

A spokesman for Lancashire police said an officer had been in the area at around 3.30pm when a man had fled from a property in the street.

He said: "There was no warrant executed.

"An officer had been at the scene when a man made off from a property.

"Officers then looked in the house and found the farm of 162 plants.

"A Vauxhall Insignia that had been left at the scene has been recovered and secured.

"Enquiries are still ongoing."

One Hope Street resident said he saw police entering the house shortly after 5pm.

He said: "I saw a few vans and officers.

"Then when I saw them bringing the cannabis plants out and I couldn't believe it.

"We never have any problems on this street, it's just not that sort of place.

"I have lived here all my life and never seen anything like that.

"When I saw the plants I just thought, oh my god.

"It's shocking, it's an absolute disgrace.

"I have two kids, I don't want them seeing stuff like that.

"I don't want it to be normalised like that."

This comes less than a week after a cannabis farm with drugs valued at £14,500 was discovered by police after a raid.

The neighbourhood policing team discovered the cannabis factory containing 29 plants in a mid-terrace house in Spring Street, Accrington, on last Thursday morning.

Police said one man had been identified in relation to the offence and will be interviewed.

Council Leader and representative for Wensley Fold ward Cllr Mohammed Khan said people need to be vigilant following this latest discovery.

He said: "It really is shocking.

There have been a number of incidents

"It was only last week I was reading about something similar being found in Accrington.

"I don't know what systems can be put in place to combat this sort of thing but it's clearly a problem.

"People need to be vigilant and aware of what is happening in their street."

Anyone with any information that will assist in locating the offenders should contact the police on 101 quoting log number LC-20180122-0832.